SEBASTIAN Larsson today argued that Blues had not yet hit their maximum form.

SEBASTIAN Larsson today argued that Blues had not yet hit their maximum form.

The midfielder said a return to sound fundamentals had to take precedence over a more aesthetic style of play, for the time being at least.

"We want to play open football but it is important to get the three points," he said. "We have a good shape about us, we haven't let a goal in in the league for four matches, that gives us some confidence.

"If we maintain that, then we can also start to play with a bit more freedom with less pressure on us.

"But it comes down to doing whatever we have to do to be successful and I definitely think that we know what it takes now. Shape-wise and work-wise what we need to put in to win the games, we know.

"I still think there is a lot more to come playing-wise, we can play a lot better football. The important thing at the moment are the results though, getting those three points each game."

Larsson said he had been frustrated at his diet of six successive cameo appearances as a substitute in the Championship.

"I played very much in the beginning of the season and I haven't very much been in the team for a while now in the league," he said.

"I have come on in the games but you really want to start. I have felt fresh and it is frustrating, definitely. At the same time, we have really steadied the ship and been on a fantastic run.

"We were 11 points behind the leaders, now it's only three. We feel we are strong at the moment. Maybe I have shown something that has put me in contention to start on Saturday, I don't know."

Larsson said that being knocked out of the League Cup by Liverpool was a blow, and there was lessons to be learned.

"Losing to what was a decent Liverpool team was disappointing. We wanted to beat them and go through," he added. "In the first half we were at least as good as they were. In the second half we didn't play as well, which was a bit frustrating.

"Maybe they stepped it up but, looking at our own performance, we lost our shape which made it easier for them.

"We stopped using the areas where we were creating the opportunities in the first half. That was probably the most disappointing thing."